The 'We' that bear the burden of the European Dilemma - Can 'We' together?
Author
Summary, in English
This contribution provides interdisciplinary analysis of expressions of austerity-policies. It is argued that expressions of austerity-policies are meaningful if and only if intended addressees’ psychological states are adequately attuned and conceptual preconditions for implementation met. Furthermore, it is argued that if addressees are suitably psychologically attuned and preconditions met, utility will, by definition, be maximised and successful economical recovery enjoyed in equal measure among austerity-implementors.
The paper is divided into five sections. In the first section the political scene is set in which austerity-policies are expressed and terminology introduced. In the second section expressions of austerity-policies are dissected and analysis of reference conditions of such expressions provided. The third section reviews conceptual analysis of intending and acting together and relates it to jointly implementing austerity-policies. In the fourth section economical rationale behind expressions of austerity-policies is evaluated with reference to what in economical theory is called team-reasoning theory. It is concluded, in section five, that given suitably psychologically attuned implementors of austerity-policies, expressions of austerity-policies are economically rational. But we should be sceptical about their economical motivation: if the people whose actions are meant to implement austerity-policies are distinct from the people whose intentions are meant to be carried out, then it might appear, in the long run, that the former bear a burden for the better of the latter.
The paper is divided into five sections. In the first section the political scene is set in which austerity-policies are expressed and terminology introduced. In the second section expressions of austerity-policies are dissected and analysis of reference conditions of such expressions provided. The third section reviews conceptual analysis of intending and acting together and relates it to jointly implementing austerity-policies. In the fourth section economical rationale behind expressions of austerity-policies is evaluated with reference to what in economical theory is called team-reasoning theory. It is concluded, in section five, that given suitably psychologically attuned implementors of austerity-policies, expressions of austerity-policies are economically rational. But we should be sceptical about their economical motivation: if the people whose actions are meant to implement austerity-policies are distinct from the people whose intentions are meant to be carried out, then it might appear, in the long run, that the former bear a burden for the better of the latter.
Department/s
- Theoretical Philosophy
- CogComlab
- Metaphysics and Collectivity
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Pages
181-209
Publication/Series
Collegium: Studies Across Disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Volume
14
Full text
- Available as PDF - 462 kB
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Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies
Topic
- Philosophy
Keywords
- Social ontology
- social identity
- team reasoning
- austerity policy
Status
Published
Project
- Understanding rules: Cognitive and noncognitive models of social cognition (ESF/VR)
Research group
- CogComlab
- Metaphysics and Collectivity
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1796-2986